Let me tell you something about Joe Karbo.
This dude sold 3 million books. No Amazon. No fancy publishers. Just one ad. One.
The book?
“The Lazy Man’s Way to Riches.”
Sounds too good to be true, right? It wasn’t.
Because the book didn’t teach a “lazy way” to get rich. Nope.
It was all about changing your mindset and marketing smarter.
The real magic? It was in the ad.
Curiosity Wins
Karbo knew something most people don’t: curiosity sells.
His ad didn’t scream “BUY MY BOOK!” Instead, he led with a headline that got people curious. “Most people are too busy earning a living to make any money.” Huh? What does that even mean?
That curiosity made people keep reading.
You can do the same in email. Don’t spill the beans right away. Tease a little. Like this:
“Most people write emails that no one opens. Are you making the same mistake?”
Boom. They’re hooked. They want to know what mistake they’re making. They’ll keep reading to find out.
Keep It Simple
Karbo’s ad wasn’t complicated. It didn’t need to be. He didn’t use big words or long sentences. He kept it clear. Easy to read. That’s why it worked.
Your emails should do the same. Short sentences. Simple words. Write like you talk. Imagine you’re telling your best friend about something cool.
Example:
Bad email: “Our product offers unparalleled solutions to improve your workflow efficiency in a streamlined manner.”
Good email: “Want to get more done in less time? This will help.”
See the difference? The second one is clear. The first one? Makes you wanna nap.
Tell a Story
Joe didn’t just say, “Here’s a book, buy it.” No. He told a story. His story. How he went from struggling to success. People love stories. Stories connect.
You can do the same in your emails. Tell a quick story that relates to what you’re selling.
Example:
“I used to hate writing emails. No one opened them. No one clicked. Then I tried this one trick. The next email I sent? 30% open rate. 20% clicks. I was blown away.”
Now they want to know what that “one trick” is, right?
It’s All About Them
Here’s the thing. Karbo’s ad? It wasn’t really about him. It was about YOU. The reader. The person who wants to get rich. He showed how his story could be your story.
Your emails should always be about the reader. Not you. Not your product. Them. Their problems. Their life.
Instead of:
“I have the best email course.”
Try:
“This course will help you write emails that make money while you sleep.”
See how that flips it? Focus on what they get.
Takeaway
Joe Karbo didn’t just sell books. He sold dreams. And he did it by keeping it simple, sparking curiosity, and making it about the reader. You can do the same with email.
Make them curious. Tell a story. Keep it simple. Focus on them.
Now go write an email that makes people curious enough to click.
Gotta go! My cat just started a band in the living room,
Daniel Matievich